The Daily Bulletin Archive

By Mary A. Durlak

The Women in Science and Mathematics Spring 2009 Lecture Series is planned for April. “We are very pleased that our speakers come from three different disciplines,” said Karen O’Quin, associate dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences and a member of the Women in Science and Math Ad Hoc Committee that schedules the speakers. “They will present topics from biology, earth science, and chemistry.”

All presentations are free and open to the public.

Dianna Padilla, professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University, will speak on Thursday, April 9, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Bulger Communication Center West. Padilla, whose research includes invasive aquatic species, will present “Invasion by an Ecosystem Engineer Dramatically Alters Benthic Communities In and Out of Marine Reserves.” Her presentation is cohosted by the Great Lakes Center; she has worked closely with Lyubov Burlakova, research scientist with the center.

“Dr. Padilla is one of our original speakers,” said O’Quin, “and we are delighted she is coming again.”

Carmala Garzione, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester, will present “Mountains and Their Profound Influence on Global Climate” on Friday, April 17, at noon in Science Building 272. She will discuss how geologists reconstruct the paleoelevation of mountain belts using various techniques that characterize atmospheric conditions of times in the past. Using records of elevation change from the Andes and Tibet, she will describe the hypothesized processes that have drawn down atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 50 million years, leading to the cold conditions that persist on Earth today.

Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich, associate professor of medicinal and biological chemistry in the University of Toledo’s College of Pharmacy, will present a talk on Thursday, April 30, during Bengal Pause in Science Building 272. The topic has not yet been finalized; her research interests include nucleic acids, which play a key role in maintaining the proper function of cells and organisms.

“These speakers provide our faculty members with an opportunity to learn about what’s going on at other campuses,” said O’Quin. “We also hope that they inspire our female students who are interested in pursuing studies in the sciences.”

This is the fifth series presented at Buffalo State, thanks to grants from the Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation Committee and the Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant Program.